Our Lasallian Twinning Program School By Ed O’Connor, Director of Student Life
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ach year during the season of Lent, La Salle High School along with all the other Christian Brothers Schools in the United States and Canada, raise money for our brother and sister schools in Africa through what is called the Twinning Program. La Salle High School along with four other high schools throughout the country are paired with Mount La Salle College in Naka, Nigeria. Though its name is Mount La Salle College, it is really a junior high and high school serving both boys and girls. Some of the realities of the students at Mount La Salle are described by their Principal Brother Wole Olabango, FSC,“Mount La Salle’s school fees equal about 20-50% of the tuition charged in some Catholic schools of equal status. Even so, most parents are unable to pay the fees. At least six in ten students are children of peasant farmers, two in ten are from petty trading families, and two in ten are children of civil servants or other wage earners. About 65% of the students are from families living on
Part of our donation will go toward the renovation of the School Auditorium.
less than one dollar per day per individual. About 33% live on two dollars or less, while 2% are from families in more comfortable financial situations.” Our students were asked to contribute to the Twinning Program through their mentor period in a contest called Mentor Mania. Our hope was that each person at La Salle (students, faculty and staff) would be able to donate $1 or $2 a week. On February 19, La Salle had the opportunity to listen to Mr. Abel Gutierrez of Cathedral High School share his experience of going to visit some of our schools in Africa. He told of the great work taking place as well as the incredible need for help. I believe our students heard his message loud and clear and will respond to the best of their ability. Brother Wole went on to say that, “Mount La Salle has used twinning donations to renovate infrastructures, buildings and provide scholarships for students who cannot afford the school fees. Its most urgent need is to build a chapel. Currently, weekly Mass and daily devotion are held in a multipurpose room.” Our generous community raised $10,500 for our “Twin” Lasallian school in Nigeria. To find out more, or contribute to this great cause, please contact Ed O’Connor at La Salle High School, 626.3696.4329 or simply use the attached donation envelope and designate “Twinning.”
La Salle Ranks 5th Nationally for Diversity
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recent listing published on December 5, 2014 by Niche Rankings identified the “Most Diverse Private High Schools in America.” The top five ranked schools are Lasallian:
1. St. Joseph High School, Westchester, Illinois
2. Saint Mary’s College High School, Berkeley, California
3. De La Salle Institute – Institute Campus, Chicago, Illinois
4. De La Salle North Catholic High School, Portland, Oregon
5. La Salle High School, Pasadena, California
According to Niche, the list ranks 532 high schools based on diversity statistics and more than 54,000 opinions from 13,000 students and parents. Niche describes a high ranking as an indication “that the school is extremely diverse and fosters a community that accepts and promotes a diversity of viewpoints, backgrounds, religious beliefs, and sexual orientations. La Salle’s Principal, Brother Christopher Brady, FSC commented that “our diversity certainly adds to the richness of our students and our educational community as well.” 14
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Four other Lasallian schools were also in the top 100: De La Salle Institute – Lourdes Hall Campus, Chicago, Illinois (38); De La Salle High School, New Orleans, Louisiana (39); Christian Brothers High School, Sacramento, California (43); and St. John’s College High School, Washington, DC (66). Niche was an expansion of the College Search Service that Carnegie Mellon University students founded in 2002. It provides reviews and insights on K-12 schools, colleges and neighborhoods.